menced the struggle for British freedom in the reign of the first James, and who, by the spirit they kindled, ensured its final consummation in the reign of his successor. Happily, the most authentic and abundant materials exist in the country for the illustration of this important portion of our annals, and I trust they will, ere long, be given to the public. They carry us back to one of the most stirring and eventful epochs in the fortunes of the human family. It was then, and under those auspices, that the first Representative Assembly met which was ever convened in this Western world-the "Grand Assembly," as it was called, though small in numbers, which sat at "James City" in June 1619, of which the present General Assembly of Virginia may be considered the descendant, in a direct line of succession, through a course of two hundred and thirty years. This event, so fruitful of important consequences to the liberties of the new world, no less than the first settlement of the Colony there, invests the now deserted James Town with historical associations, which can never be recalled without a touching interest. Why should not such a spot be commemorated by some pious monument of the public gratitude and veneration? Is it unworthy of beings, constituted as we are, to fortify a rational attachment to the Institutions we have derived from our ancestors by enlisting on their side the natural instincts and affections of the human heart?

In this connection, I am strongly reminded of an omission which, I fear, may not be without some reproach to ourselves or the public councils. The soil of Virginia was the theatre of the great closing scene of the War of Independence. The plains of York Town were signalized by the capture and surrender of the last hostile army that maintained the contest against American Liberty. The surrender of that powerful and well-appointed army to the combined forces of America and France, was in itself a most august and imposing scene, and in its consequences, by far the greatest event of the age. It was so felt to be at the time; and both Congress and the people testified their sense of it by unbounded effusions of the public joy, and by the most so

lemn manifestations of gratitude to Almighty God. Among other resolutions adopted by Congress on the occasion, they resolved on the 29th day of October 1781, just ten days after the event, that "the United States in Congress assembled will cause to be erected at York, in Virginia, a marble column adorned with suitable emblems, and inscribed with a succinct narrative of the circumstances of the surrender." The enquiry forces itself upon us, why it is that no movement has yet been made towards the execution of this pious resolve. The subject seems properly to fall within the province of this Society, and I have been led to bring it to your notice by having in my possession a most interesting original letter written at the time by an eye witness of the surrender,* containing a very graphic and detailed account of jt, which it is my intention to place among the archives of the Society. Some of our sister States have set us a noble example by marking those spots of their territory which have been the scenes of great historical events by simple but appropriate monuments to signalize them to future ages, and to embody a lasting expression of the national sensibility and gratitude. Are not York and James Town, worthy to be thus commemorated with Bunker-Hill and Plymouth?

But I have detained you, gentlemen, by these desultory hints, too long from the rich entertainment which awaits us at the hands of the learned and distinguished gentlemen who have consented to favour us with addresses on this occasion, and whom I shall have the honor to introduce to the Society as soon as the annual reports of the Executive Committee and of the Secretary are read.

THE REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The Executive Committee are gratified at being able to report that during the past year much has been done to promote the objects of the society.

* Col. Wm. Fontaine, of Hanover.

In our last report, we made known our desire to receive books, pamphlets or documents relating to the History of the State, and invited from such as could furnish it, authentic information in relation to all who have been distinguished in the annals of Virginia, or connected with its history. To what extent the Library has been increased by means of donations, you will be informed by the Librarian. He will also tell you of the progress made in collecting materials for history or biograpby, in letters, documents, or otherwise.

The Virginia Historical Register," published quarterly, by Mr. Maxwell, has proved to be a convenient and agreeable mode of communicating periodically to the public, some of the most interesting of these collections. We think its value will be increased when it can be so enlarged as to enable the publisher to embrace in it full and accurate information as to the most important events happening about the period of its publication, as well as in relation to occurrences of past times; and such enlargement may reasonably be expected, if the patronage of this journal shall be equal to its merits. Furnishing as it does a great security against the danger of loss or injury to manuscripts before the matter of them can appear in chronological order, in our annual volumes, and imparting much valuable information in a pleasing manner; we hope that every member of the society will not only take it and read it himself, but will also endeavor to extend its circulation.

In saying this, we are not to be understood as intending to abolish the distinction heretofore made in favor of members of the society out of Richmond. The plan heretofore adopted of furnishing a copy of the Journal, without charge, to each member residing out of this city, will be continued. This distinction in favor of the country members, we have thought but just, for the reason given in our last report, namely, that those residing in the city will have, on the other hand, in their more ready access to the library, a full equivalent. Yet we shall always be pleased to find the library visited by any members from the country who may come to the city, or by any persons bringing letters of introduction from such members. So, too, a member residing in Richmond will not only have access to the room, but also the privilege of introducing a stranger. All so admitted will have such facilities for pursuing any investigation as the library affords. It is a reproach to us, to have lived so long without having in any library in this State, full materials for her history-a reproach to us that one who desires to be fully and accurately informed in regard to the history of his native land, must leave that land and go to other States and countries. Let this reproach exist no

longer, if it be possible to prevent it. Let us resolve to have an historical library in which shall be found a copy of every volume hitherto printed, connected with the history of Virginia, and every valuable manuscript which can be obtained, illustrating that history. Let us preserve these from the destroying hand of time, arrange them in the best manner, and make known through the press all that is of value. To do this, both money and mind are necessary. On the one hand the number of members of this society must be enlarged, and punctuality be observed byall in paying their annual quotas. On the other hand, some of the members of the society, and especially of the Executive Committee, must spare from their private pursuits, a portion of their time to prepare or arrange matter for publication.

In other States, the Historical Societies have published their Collections generally without much regard to chronology; their volumes have consisted commonly of disjointed fragments; and the committee making the selection for publication, has not had very great labor: but the result has been that comparatively few have read the volumes thus prepared. Our plan is different, and those who are to carry it out must encounter greater labor. Proceeding as we do in chronological order, a volume from any given time is to contain in it all such matter relating to our history from that time to the period at which the volume terminates, as may be deemed worthy of publication. In preparing this, as was remarked in our last report, a careful examination is to be made not only of books with which a Virginian is familiar, but to some extent of other works hitherto not accessible in this State. What is taken from each is to be given as far as possible, in the language of the original author. In thus preserving the original accounts, free from mutilation, so far as they are of sufficient interest to be preserved, we carry out a most important purpose of an Historical Society. While, at the same time, the plan of preparing the volume for any period, mainly by means of extracts from the older authors, is one which it is more practicable to carry out than if we were to undertake to have a new historical account written for such period.

The duty of preparing a volume, by way of a beginning towards the execution of this plan, was devolved on the Chairman. He had been engaged upon it and contemplated passing very cursorily over the time which intervened between the discovery of America by Columbus, and the period at which the name of Virginia was given, when a circumstance occurred which changed almost entirely the character of the volume. It was the receipt by the committee, in May 1848, of a very interesting communication from Robert Greenhow, Esq., a corresponding mem

ber of the Society, stating that the Spaniards in 1566 had knowledge of, and in 1573, visited a bay called Santa Maria, in the latitude of 37 degrees, and suggesting that this bay must have been the Chesapeake. The communication was, in every point of view, proper to be inserted in the proposed volume. Yet its insertion would not have been enough, without some attempt to trace the progress of the Spaniards in America, prior to the period mentioned in it. No one volume had before been published giving a regular, connected account of all the voyages to and along the Atlantic Coast of North America, down to 1573. It appeared desirable to have such an account, and along with it a narrative of the early discoveries in this western hemisphere, before the Spaniards had established themselves in Mexico. From no Historical Society in the Union could a volume of this nature, more suitably come than from the Historical Society of this, the oldest of the old thirteen States. The Chairman proceeded to prepare it, as well as he could, during the nights of two or three of the summer months, with such materials as could be found in the imperfect libraries to which he had access. The result is before you in the volume of " Early Voyages to America," a copy of which will be delivered by the Librarian to each member of the Society not already supplied.

The want in our State of a good collection of the early writers upon American history, was so much felt by the Chairman, while preparing this volume, that we have determined to go as far as our means will allow, in ordering from abroad such rare works of an ancient date as will probably be of use in the preparation of future volumes.

The next volume will, of course, continue the historical account from 1573, for such time as it may be found convenient to comprise in the volume. Whether it will embrace all the voyages to and along the Atlantic coast of North America, from 1573 to 1606, or merely give an account of such of them as were made to what has been called Virginia, and proceed then with the Annals of our State, is a question which the committee will determine hereafter. Our impression is that the next volume will probably be of the former character, and will be succeeded by a volume of the Annals of Virginia, from 1606.

The Committee are pleased at being able to state that during the past year, a considerable addition has been made to the number of life members, paying $50 each. There are now twentytwo, and the amount paid by them $1100, of which $1000 has been, and the rest will soon be, invested, as a permanent fund in certificates of debt of the State of Virginia, the interest of which (but none of the principal) is used in aid of the admission fees